Collapsible E-Liquid Cartridge with Segmented Rigid Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional e-cigarette cartridges with rigid liquid storage containers face issues such as pressure differences that hinder liquid withdrawal, leading to reduced wettability and aerosol quality due to air flow, and are prone to leakage and non-replaceable reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a liquid storage portion with a rigid support and a collapsible portion, where a wick extends through a nozzle across the full cross-section, minimizing pressure differences and using a porous wick and heat-resistant materials to maintain wettability, along with a re-closable cap for easy cartridge exchange and a flexible, hermetically sealed collapsible portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid container is used for liquid storage, then structural stability is improved, but pressure difference prevents liquid withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a rigid support portion and a collapsible portion. The rigid support portion maintains structural stability and houses the nozzle and wick, while the collapsible portion allows volume reduction to maintain pressure equilibrium during liquid withdrawal, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and liquid withdrawal ease.
2Stress or pressure
If air flows into the tank to balance pressure, then pressure equilibrium is improved, but wettability and capillary action are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the container into rigid and collapsible portions, the collapsible portion can deform inward to balance pressure without requiring air inflow, thus maintaining wick wettability and capillary action while achieving pressure equilibrium.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible portion acts as a flexible membrane that can deform to equalize pressure differences without introducing air into the liquid storage space, preserving the wick's capillary properties and wettability.
3Stress or pressure
If a collapsible reservoir is used, then pressure balance is improved, but leakage and non-replaceability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid support portion provides structural integrity and sealing capability to prevent leakage, while the collapsible portion maintains pressure balance. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both pressure balance and leakage resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The container combines rigid and collapsible materials with different properties. The rigid portion provides structural stability and sealing, while the collapsible portion provides pressure balance, creating a composite structure that overcomes the limitations of using either material alone.
4Device complexity
If the wick cross-section is reduced, then device complexity is reduced, but capillary action efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wick is designed with a specific cross-sectional configuration optimized for capillary action at the nozzle opening. The wick extends through the full cross-section of the nozzle opening, ensuring efficient liquid delivery to the heating element while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances capillary action, maintains wettability, prevents leakage, and allows for easy cartridge replacement, improving the e-cigarette experience by maintaining aerosol quality and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
A wick is provided in the nozzle and facilitates dispensing of the liquid aerosol-generating substrate
Implementation Method 2
the aerosol-generating liquid is drawn out of the liquid storage portion by capillary action of the wick
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The cartridge for an aerosol generating system comprises a liquid storage portion, the liquid storage portion comprising a rigid support portion (2) having a nozzle (3) defining an opening for dispensing an aerosol-forming substrate and a collapsible portion (1), attached to the rigid support portion (2). A wick (4) is provided in the nozzle (3) of the support. The wick (4) extends across the full cross-section of the opening of the rigid support portion (2). The invention is also directed to an aerosol generating system comprising the cartridge and to a method for forming the cartridge comprising the steps of providing a rigid support portion (2), with a nozzle (3) defining an opening, attaching a collapsible portion (1) to the rigid support portion (2) to form a liquid storage portion, and providing a wick (4) in the nozzle (3) of the rigid support portion (2) wherein the wick (4) extends across the full cross-section of the opening of the rigid support portion (2).